Is there any place for conspiracy theory in political debate?

Political debate is based on a discussion of the differing merits of differing socio-economic models.

It seems to me that many conspiracy theorists try to shut down such discussions, for example - someone that is of one political frame of mind who dislikes their opponents' ideas can use conspiracy theory to attack those ideas not on their merits but by claiming that they are just an invention or tool of a secret conspiracy of the NWO, Illuminati, Lucifer worshippers or tooth fairies.

It doesn’t really matter who the conspirators are or even if they exist it stops being a matter of the merits of differing systems and turns into a fundamentalist crusade against evil shadows.

This means that a political viewpoint can be portrayed as a matter of saving the world from evil and not about whether its ideas can produce beneficial social and economic change or not.

And conversely anyone that opposes the conspiracy backed ideas on rational political grounds is portrayed as either a patsy for evil or is part of the evil conspiracy.

In other words those that use conspiracy theories are just trying to trump any rational, open or honest political debate, with the tactics of fear mongering and scapegoating, the only wish seems to be in ending any true debate.

The politics forum guidelines states that conspiracy theories although they can be fun or thought provoking, can also become repetitive, dogmatic and can also be used to suppress political debate rather than promote it – “Therefore posts about conspiracies may find themselves being transferred to the Conspiracy Forum or deleted”

If you see conspiracy theory in a post or thread that is being used instead of proper political debate please inform one of the politics forum moderators immediately.

 

I'm going to make this easy for you to understand.

This is my final post in the political forum, although it's really your forum, isn't it?

Moderation appears to concentrate more on rules than free discussion. It really smears the idea that this is a "hip" to be.

I'll post elsewhere on the forum from now on.

I don't want you over me.



x

 

Well one would have to consider whether or not Abe Lincoln was killed by a confederate conspiracy? If so then at least that conspiracy would constitute a valid discussion for political debate.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/lincolnchronology.html

 

Politics are never anything other then what the people on the stage say they are.?

Did the U.S. invade Iraq for oil? CONSPIRACY ?

Do political bills get passed to profit shareholders that contribute to political funds? CONSPIRACY ?

Do governments send armies to war to “Help” other countries or for material gain? CONSPIRACY ?

So you propose we all talk about Hilary’s new dress and her great contributions to the War on Drugs?

Or maybe Obamas plain to “help” the people of Iraq achieve “freedom”.?

Yeah.. I will check this forum hourly for any signs or conspiracy talk and report it right away.

 

During the vice presidential debates, Biden said something about the Senate, and working with 99 other Senators from across the political spectrum. He said (paraphrasing) "It's senseless to argue about someone's motivation. Argue about their judgement."

I think that applies perfectly to this forum.

 

Mainstream politics is based on conspiracy. You have the cover story for the public, and then you have what's really going on behind the scenes, which the media does not readily talk about. Those who say that conspiracy is not part of political debate, obviously know nothing about politics and believe simply what they're given to believe and parrot by corporate media.

In this case, what is even the point in discussing politics? Politics is merely a smoke screen for the public. That is all it is. It is a cover story designed to mislead you.

Maybe it's time for some of us to simply leave the forums as it appears the Gestapo have taken over.

Some of you people have really stooped to all-time lows.

Quite pathetic.

 

There is an entire Subforum dedicated to Conspiracy Theory discussions in which any and all members are readily encouraged to participate and post in.

There are however, some voices that exist in the Politics Forum that do impede rational discussion by lacing all of their posts with conspiracy-ism.

It sucks the life out of debates, many a times.

 

Not sure why you frequent these parts if you see no point in political discussion.

 

Who decides what is a conspiracy theory and what isn't? I would say most of the conspiracy discussion in here centers on conspiracy fact.

I don't see how it sucks the life out of the debate. If anything it adds life to a debate that would otherwise be based around talking points.

Who are you (or anyone else for that matter) to define what "rational" discussion is?

 

There is a difference between the talking points which make up the typical zombified political discussion as dictated by a controlled corporate media, and the reality behind the talking points, which are largely ignored by controlled media and transcend political discourse.

Once again you totally misinterpreted what I said.

 

Not all threads should delve into conspiracy theories.

Most of them should be about politics here. If you can't handle that, then you have a problem with the terms and conditions of this Forum.

You seem to think that all politics is conspiracy. So you keep parroting those conspiracies here, when there is an entire Forum dedicated to conspiracy theories and yet you accuse other members of troll-like activity.

It's pretty evident when conspiracy speak and discussions get out of control here on the Forums. For a large part, both Balbus and I are tolerant to pretty much all of the discussions that go on here.

But we can't have a Politics Forum that is all Conspiracy theory, Conspiracy fact, and Conspiracy discussions. That's not what a Politics Forum is, that's what a Conspiracy Forum is.

 

I'll ask you once again, who are you to say what a conspiracy theory is, versus the opinion of an informed individual that may not happen to view things the way you do?

Furthermore, who are you to say what a person should and should not post in forums that are supposedly "free speech?" That is an incredibly Orwellian attitude to have, but indicative of the immense conditioning the public is under. It's pretty scary that some people actually see such a dangerous attitude as acceptable.

So we cannot talk about things that can be backed up with facts if they are deemed conspiratorial to you or the other moderator? We should just talk about what we heard on the news the previous night, or talk about what Obama said in one of "his" pre-written speeches? Perhaps you should come up with a list of things that are acceptable to discuss.

People are waking up. You are going to find it hard to silence people, especially as things continue getting worse and worse and people realize the entire system is a farce.

 

EXACTLY, Rat!!! :cheers2:

To me, the conspiracy theories (and i'm reading that as: crackpot ideas) each of us holds make for thought-provoking debates, mainly because i choose to at least consider the theories. Some of them are patent bullspit; others are mind-boggling; yet others, truly reasonable.

Why would we want to hide ourselves from ANY new ideas? If we don't like the idea, we can ignore it, without getting up-close and personally into each other's faces.

And, honestly, of ALL of the places i might have expected censorship, power trips, and tantrums,

these forums would have been the very last.

Bummer. That was a bad decision, imho.

 

Are you saying conspiracy theories have no place in political discussion?

Man, are you even from around here?

 

Who am I? The Moderator.

Hijacking threads to parrot conspiracy theories over, and over, and over will not be tolerated. Feel free to talk about whatever you like above and beyond that.

 

Do all political discussions revolve around conspiracy theories? No.

This should be reflected in the discussions and threads here. It's really that plain and simple to understand and follow.

 

Are you threatening to BAN folks, now?!?

Good Grief!

GET A GRIP!

Who is the Mod for the Conspiracy Forum?

 

Dunno. I don't think there is a designated Mod assigned to those Forums yet.

 

So was that your reason for wanting so badly to become moderator? So you could order people around and control the discussion? I must say it seems that way. So you are the moderator. Do you think that makes you special? I have been coming here far longer than you and have never once asked to be moderator of anything. I don't wish to be the boss of anybody or dictate what people can and cannot say. That's what separates psychopaths from normal people. Perhaps you have the power to ban me, and I am sure you ultimately will, but that means nothing outside these forums. The way things are going now, I will probably end up voluntarily leaving the forums permanently. I am not going to conform to anybody's fascistic rules regarding what I can and can't say. Fuck that shit.

Have you ever asked yourself how many of MY threads you've hijacked with your childish nonsense and insulting remarks?

 

It is very easy to spot conspiracy theory and conspiracy theorists.

There is a world of difference between the actions and machinations of politically motivated groups, movements and classes of real and rational politics and the supposed shadow governments of blood lines, Lucifer worshippers or pixies that is put forward by conspiracy theorists.

The first has debatable views and aspirations that can be analysed in a reasonable and rational way the conspiracy theorists hides from any rational debate behind scare mongering and scapegoating.

For example – an open nationalist would put forward rational arguments in favour of nationalism. A conspiracy theorist who favours nationalism shouts shrilly about ‘dark’ forces wanting to destroy nationalism in favour of world wide tyranny.

An open right wing libertarian would put forward their rationally based arguments against government regulation. A conspiracy theorist who favours right wing libertarianism screams about evil Lucifer worshipers (or lizards or illumanti etc) controlling the governments and using regulations to steal way peoples freedoms so they can take over the world.

I could go on and on, it’s not hard to spot, and as is clear often involves a large measure of deceit.

If you put a rational question and get as a reply some irrational gibberish about dark and evil forces and or hidden hands and puppet strings, then you don’t have honest and rational debate only dishonesty, superstition, supposition, innuendo and in many cases a large douse of delusion. That kind of thing kills any open and honest debate.

**